Page:1976 Campaign Strategy Paper.pdf/25

 and are still having to cope with certain aspects of racial integration — busing, preferential treatment given some blacks in employment, etc. If you spend too much time in your campaign talking about the "race issue", then you risk alienating many of these peeple. Because you are from the South, many of these same whites will think (as Kirbo puts it) that you will know how to 'handle the blacks“ and generally will perceive you as being more conservative than you are on many social issues

that they are concerned about - "the welfare mess“ as an example.

I View the use of the “racial progress" issue in your canpaign 295 as one of the tour or five major themes of your candidacy

but as a sub-theme which reinforces your total image of being fair in your dealings with all people. Certainly, we need to utilize the many good friends we have in the Atlanta black con- munity and around the country, and we need to publicize your accomplishments in terms of black involvement in your Administration and proqrans in which blacks have a natural interest. But lets keep this issue in proper perspective in terms of its use in your campaign and in understanding the possible ramifications of talk? ing too much or too little about the race issue.